Catchy title.... Serious though
Have modern pagans missed the mark when we look back to the old stories, poems, influences, etc? I was sitting here thinking about Hekate and pondering the various works that are cited for things that are sacred to her or invoke images of her. The idea of snakes girdling her, forming hair or adorning her head as she rises up from the underworld to appear before Jason one of the images that came to mind. In part melding with the ongoing contemplation I've been having regarding the conflating of aspects of Medusa in particular and the Gorgon in general with Hekate in some aspects of Hellene mythology.
Yet as all that has been coalescing in my head I kept getting images of how we use modern imagery and symbology to convey things today. Not to portray sacred images or thoughts but to use association and deeper cultural associations with an items placement within and the subliminal message generated by its inclusion. Sort of the idea of using green face on women and warty noses to suggest witches at Halloween along with a black cat. It's more of a cultural and psychological meaning more than anything else now more than a religious or occultist meaning when it is seen. The same could be said of the inclusion of various objects such as bones for the death, an Owl for Athena, a bow for Artemis, etc.
So if I consider just how much of that usage of imagery and atmosphere is to be found in our own media and art why should I not assume it would not be present in the archaic works? Then if I presume it is there then should we not presume that many of the descriptions and imagery being created speak to the cultural and social norms and expectations of the day? Why should we expect Hekate to rise from the underworld with anything less than snake when the snake held such a cultural and social connection to the underworld in Hellene culture? Why wouldn't Hekate have so many characteristic's similar to the gorgon who was so closely connected to evil spirits and keeping evil away by its gauze when Hekate was associated with them as well as guarding entryways. Yet all that would also be things the viewer would already know and would be thinking upon viewing or hearing it so it would be present.
The playwright didn't have to add much to the play for the audience already knew it. Little backstory needed for the audience already knew it and had the foundation laid. The subliminal message was already implanted.
I know for me it seems the further I delve into discovering those I am sworn to the further I seem to move away from what others seem to see them as. Yes they are still mystical and magical and even powerful but they no longer seem fractured though that may not make sense as a statement. I suppose in many ways it seems, to me anyway, that people are focusing upon the props vice understanding what the props indicate and convey to the playwright who incorporates them into his / her play for the audience.
Have modern pagans missed the mark when we look back to the old stories, poems, influences, etc? I was sitting here thinking about Hekate and pondering the various works that are cited for things that are sacred to her or invoke images of her. The idea of snakes girdling her, forming hair or adorning her head as she rises up from the underworld to appear before Jason one of the images that came to mind. In part melding with the ongoing contemplation I've been having regarding the conflating of aspects of Medusa in particular and the Gorgon in general with Hekate in some aspects of Hellene mythology.
Yet as all that has been coalescing in my head I kept getting images of how we use modern imagery and symbology to convey things today. Not to portray sacred images or thoughts but to use association and deeper cultural associations with an items placement within and the subliminal message generated by its inclusion. Sort of the idea of using green face on women and warty noses to suggest witches at Halloween along with a black cat. It's more of a cultural and psychological meaning more than anything else now more than a religious or occultist meaning when it is seen. The same could be said of the inclusion of various objects such as bones for the death, an Owl for Athena, a bow for Artemis, etc.
So if I consider just how much of that usage of imagery and atmosphere is to be found in our own media and art why should I not assume it would not be present in the archaic works? Then if I presume it is there then should we not presume that many of the descriptions and imagery being created speak to the cultural and social norms and expectations of the day? Why should we expect Hekate to rise from the underworld with anything less than snake when the snake held such a cultural and social connection to the underworld in Hellene culture? Why wouldn't Hekate have so many characteristic's similar to the gorgon who was so closely connected to evil spirits and keeping evil away by its gauze when Hekate was associated with them as well as guarding entryways. Yet all that would also be things the viewer would already know and would be thinking upon viewing or hearing it so it would be present.
The playwright didn't have to add much to the play for the audience already knew it. Little backstory needed for the audience already knew it and had the foundation laid. The subliminal message was already implanted.
I know for me it seems the further I delve into discovering those I am sworn to the further I seem to move away from what others seem to see them as. Yes they are still mystical and magical and even powerful but they no longer seem fractured though that may not make sense as a statement. I suppose in many ways it seems, to me anyway, that people are focusing upon the props vice understanding what the props indicate and convey to the playwright who incorporates them into his / her play for the audience.
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